Berlin will continue to help Ukraine with weapons - Scholz

Putin will not be able to achieve his goals in Ukraine and in Europe, and the West will provide Ukraine with support, including military support.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this in his remarks to the Bundestag before the EU summit in Brussels, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

He noted that Putin's brutality in Ukraine, his use of energy and hunger as a weapon, a spike in inflation - all this became a test for Europe and the world, not seen for the last decade. Putin resorts to terror in Ukraine and uses irresponsible nuclear rhetoric. He is trying to play on the weaknesses of the West, to split the world. "He is wrong. We will not allow us to be divided... Our country stands together, Europe stands together, in solidarity with each other and with Ukraine. Our alliances around the world are strong. Putin will not achieve his goals," Scholz said.

He noted that Putin's goals would not be implemented - both thanks to the courage of the Ukrainians and the help of Ukraine's friends and partners.

Scholz said that currently Ukraine needs artillery and air defense equipment the most. He recalled that the first IRIS-T air defense system was handed over to Ukraine last week, ahead of schedule. "The next three will be transferred as soon as possible," he said. He noted that all transferred weapons play an important role on the battlefield.

Scholz also noted that Germany would become one of the European countries to train up to 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers. According to him, "a full brigade - up to 5,000 soldiers" would be trained in Germany by spring.

Scholz condemned the brutal rocket and drone attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine over the past two weeks. "Deliberate attacks on civilians are a war crime, but this scorched earth tactic will not help Putin win this war," he said. He called it an act of Putin's desperation, just like a mobilization.

He said that "Moscow's new escalation will not be left unanswered", it only strengthens the determination of the West. The pressure on the Kremlin was further increased by the latest sanctions package. And it will be like that as long as Russia continues its war.

"Ukraine will successfully defend itself, and we will help it as long as it takes," Scholz said. Putin hoped to divide Europeans, but achieved the opposite, he added.

Scholz also emphasized the importance of helping Ukraine rebuild, which, he said, would be "the task of a generation." He recalled that an expert conference would be held on October 25 in Berlin to discuss an "international Marshall Plan for Ukraine."

Scholz called it good news that Ukraine's financial needs would be covered by the end of the year, and the Group of Seven (currently chaired by Germany) plays an important role here.

The chancellor also said that Russia can no longer be considered a reliable trading partner and that Europe is getting rid of its energy dependence on Russia.

The EU Heads of State and Government Summit is being held in Brussels on October 20-21.

Photo: dpa